Download apes_syllabus - Earth and environmental science

Independence H.S
AP Environmental Science
2016-2017
Instructor:
Dr. Cherylann Bourne-Hayes (980-344-6900)
Email- [email protected]
Grades: 11/12
Prerequisites: Prerequisites: Algebra I, Biology, and Chemistry
Description: AP Environmental Science is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester,
introductory college course in environmental science. The course will provide students with the
scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of
the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made,
to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions
for resolving or preventing them. The course includes a wide variety of science disciplines
including geology, biology, environmental studies, chemistry and geography.
Course Standards and Objectives:
Students will…….
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Describe various earth systems and the dynamics of the resources that are utilized.
Develop and design models of the Living World that can explain ecosystem structures,
energy flow, diversity, change and biogeochemical cycles.
Explain population biology concepts and develop strategies for sustainability by
examining case studies and national policies.
Determine the impact of various land and water uses such as agriculture, transportation,
deforestation, fishing, and mining on global economies.
Calculate energy consumption and predict future needs based on current uses and trends.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of various alternative energy sources.
Describe various pollution types, sources, effects and control measures.
Explain the impacts of pollution on the Environment, Human Health, and the Economy.
Analyze atmospheric and ecological data relating to stratospheric ozone, Global
Warming and Biodiversity.
Complete laboratory and field experiences such as collecting and analyzing water
samples from a nearby stream, and/or building and maintaining a school composting area.
Field experiences will be based on number of students and available resources
Course topics/units
I. Earth Systems and Resources (10–15%) 7 days
A. Earth Science Concepts
(Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and latitude)
B. The Atmosphere
(Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect;
atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO)
C. Global Water Resources and Use
(Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and
groundwater issues; global problems; conservation)
D. Soil and Soil Dynamics
(Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types; erosion and
other soil problems; soil conservation)
II. The Living World (10–15%) 10 days
A. Ecosystem Structure
(Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone
species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic biomes)
B. Energy Flow
(Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids)
C. Ecosystem Diversity
(Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services)
D. Natural Ecosystem Change
(Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession)
E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
(Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter)
III. Population (10–15%) 10 days
A. Population Biology Concepts
(Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship)
B. Human Population
1. Human population dynamics
(Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times;
demographic transition; age-structure diagrams)
2. Population size
(Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies)
3. Impacts of population growth
(Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction)
IV. Land and Water Use (10–15%) 7 days
A. Agriculture
1. Feeding a growing population
(Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; genetic engineering and
crop production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable agriculture)
2. Controlling pests
(Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest management; relevant
laws)
B. Forestry
(Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests)
C. Rangelands
(Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands)
D. Other Land Use
1. Urban land development
(Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization)
2. Transportation infrastructure
(Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts)
3. Public and federal lands
(Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands)
4. Land conservation options
(Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration)
5. Sustainable land-use strategies
E. Mining
(Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties)
F. Fishing
(Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties)
G. Global Economics
(Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties)
V. Energy Resources and Consumption (10–15%) 10 days
A. Energy Concepts
(Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics)
B. Energy Consumption
1. History
(Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis)
2. Present global energy use
3. Future energy needs
C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
(Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves and global
demand; synfuels; environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources)
D. Nuclear Energy
(Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types; environmental
advantages/disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and human health; radioactive wastes; nuclear
fusion)
E. Hydroelectric Power
(Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts)
F. Energy Conservation
(Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit)
G. Renewable Energy
(Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale hydroelectric;
ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental advantages/disadvantages)
VI. Pollution (25–30%) 10 days
A. Pollution Types
1. Air pollution
(Sources — primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog; acid
deposition — causes and effects; heat islands and temperature inversions; indoor air pollution;
remediation and reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant laws)
2. Noise pollution
(Sources; effects; control measures)
3. Water pollution
(Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater pollution; maintaining
water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act and other
relevant laws)
4. Solid waste
(Types; disposal; reduction)
B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
1. Hazards to human health
(Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships; air
pollutants; smoking and other risks)
2. Hazardous chemicals in the environment
(Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of contaminated sites;
biomagnification; relevant laws)
C. Economic Impacts
(Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability)
VII. Global Change (10–15%) 7 days
A. Stratospheric Ozone
(Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone depletion; effects of ozone
depletion; strategies for reducing ozone depletion; relevant laws and treaties)
B. Global Warming
(Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming; reducing
climate change; relevant laws and treaties)
C. Loss of Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species
2. Maintenance through conservation
3. Relevant laws and treaties
Course Materials: Bring materials to class everyday!
1. 3- ring Binder with tabs to organize notes and worksheets by topic
Requirements: Students must participate in labs and outdoor experiences that take place during
the school day.
Text: Environment: The Science Behind the Stories, Withgott and Brennan, Pearson/Benjamin
Cummings Publisher 2007. Students will have access to the e-textbook as well as other ancillary
materials.
Grade Calculation: Grades are weighted and will be determined as follows:
Tests and formal lab reports: 70%
Labs (non-lab report), homework, quizzes, projects, classwork: 30%
Grading rules
1. Additional practice will be provided for students who do not achieve initial mastery
(79%)
2. After receiving additional practice (which includes, but is not limited to, tutoring and
worksheets) a student must retest any given formal assessment once within 10 days after
the original graded assessment is returned to the student/reviewed by the student.
Retesting will be done afterschool. The maximum grade a student can earn on a re-test is
89%
Assignments
Arrangements for completing the work should be made within five school days of the
student’s return to school. Arrangements should include a schedule for completion of the
work. The student must initiate the contact with the teacher.
Late work submission
Students will be afforded a 1-day (this will be the next day which is a non-class day)
window to submit overdue assignments for a maximum grade of 50%. Assignments will
not be accepted past the 1 day window.
Assignments NOT submitted within the first 10 minutes of class are considered late.
1. Credit for late work shall be awarded according to the following guidelines:
a. If the student was present in class on the due date, the work will be given less credit;
b. If the student was not present in class on the due date because of an excused absence,
full credit will be given for the completed work.
3. If the student was not present in class on the due date because of an unexcused
absence, the work will be given less credit. (CMS)
A student who is absent the day an assessment is given has 5 school days after his/her return to
turn in the assignment and to take the assessment for full credit. If a student fails to complete an
assessment in that window, then the retesting policy would come into effect.
Class Activities
Class activities include but are not limited to labs, discussions, projects, case studies, and article
readings.
Class Behavior and Discipline: Let’s keep it simple: RESPECT! Maintain a positive attitude,
show respect, be outgoing and helpful and we will have a lot of fun. Please be on time to class!
Depending on the incident discipline will be in the form of a warning, parent call, after school
detention, and or referral.
Classroom rules
 Enter quietly and prepare for class
 Do not talk or interrupt while the instructor or fellow classmate is speaking.
 Remain seated unless given direction to leave your seat.
 Always be respectful to the instructor, fellow classmates and materials provided for use.
Consequences for breaking classroom rules (depending on the behavior this order may not be
followed)
 Warning and/ or phone call home
 ASD-Detention
 Phone call and parent conference
 Referral
Classroom Computer Usage: Students may use the classroom lap top computers to complete
their work. Students must follow school acceptable use policy and use them for APES work
ONLY. Failure to use computers appropriately will cause privileges to be revoked.
Tutoring
I will be available on Mondays from 2:15- 3:15p.m. Please sign up in advance. If these days do
not work for you, please let me know in advance of another day that you can stay after.
Grading scale
90-100 ----A
80-89------B
70-79------C
60-69----- D
59 -0------ F
Please sign and return this side of the page
Student name (printed) ___________________________________________ Date _______
Student name (signed) ___________________________________________ Date _______
Parent name (signed) ___________________________________________ Date _______
Parent name (printed) ___________________________________________ Date _______
Best number and time to contact _________________________________________________